Wall art in your home office will make you happier and more productive

It’s time to deck the walls with art in your home office. Why? Because art in the workplace can reduce stress and improve productivity, according to results from a new study.

Commissioned by leading art experts at the Affordable Art Fair, in partnership with YouGov, the study found a shocking 50 per cent of Brits who work indoors say there is no artwork in their workplace at all, with 65 per cent unable to see any art from their desk.

But almost a third (29 per cent) believe artwork should be installed in workplaces to improve productivity, and this came ahead of sleep pods (17 per cent), ping pong tables (14 per cent) and beanbags (12 per cent).

But it isn’t just down to aesthetics either; 27 per cent of workers with art in their office said it makes them feel happy, whilst 21 per cent said it makes them feel peaceful.

Carolyn Barber

In fact, nearly a fifth believe introducing art into offices helps to stimulate creative discussion, and is crucial for brainstorming and problem solving.

With more and more of us working from home, it’s essential that our home office space is as productive as possible – and this can be quite a challenge when working within a small space too. But decorating a wall with art seems like a relatively easy, cost-effective option for the benefits you'll reap in return, right?

The research also revealed the most desirable types of artwork for an office:

'It’s the little things in our workplace environments that can have a big, positive impact on the everyday lives of those that work there – and artwork has a huge role to play in this,’ said Dr Harriet Shortt, expert on the workplace environment. 'These findings prove that artwork makes workers feel happier, more peaceful and more creative, and are a call to action for many organisations to reconsider the bland bare walls that surround their workforce.

'This isn’t just about making our workplace walls more attractive or having art for art’s sake; this is about helping our workforces become more reflective, imaginative and inventive.

'And in today’s fast paced working world where innovation and adaptability are key, surely all organisations should be looking to find new and exciting ways to inspire their workforce and stimulate creative discussions. Investment in art could be one such way.’

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Olivia HeathDigital Editor, House Beautiful UKOlivia Heath is the Digital Editor at House Beautiful UK, uncovering tomorrow's biggest home trends, delivering stylish room decor inspiration and rounding up the hottest properties on the market.

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